what do u think??? any other rat tips will help, ive already done some research. THX
2007-11-20 01:44:18 · 16 answers · asked by LacrosseGal89 1 in Pets ➔ Rodents
yes they are very kind and beautiful i love them
2007-11-20 01:48:22 · answer #1 · answered by spyd93 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are!! I got one and less than a year later I'm up to five, so be warned, they are addictive!! But they are also a lot of work, if you can't spend at least 3-4 hours a day with your rat it's best you get two, for company. Always check over the health of the rat/rats you want before you commit to buy/adopting them and rats can suffer from respiratory diseases so keep an eye out for that.
There are some rat yahoo! groups that are good, searching "ratlist" is a good place to start, also the link below.
And the person who said that rats with red eyes are mean is lying, I have two rats with red eyes and they are the sweetest of the bunch.
2007-11-20 10:39:03 · answer #2 · answered by Lu-Boo 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rats are awesome companions. As several ppl here have said, you should adopt more than one (same sex though). Don't use cedar or pine bedding, these are bad for small animals. Give your rats names that don't rhyme or sound too much alike so they'll learn them more easilly-- nothing's more charming than a happy rat running to greet you @ the sound of his/her name.
The best place to adopt from is a rescue or a good breeder. If your only option is a petshop, make sure you handle anybody before bringing them home so you've got an idea about how healthy & well-socialized they are. If you're enchanted by a timid or unsocial rat, it's still possible to make friends but may take some time & patience. Good luck.
2007-11-20 16:56:31 · answer #3 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes rats make GREAT pets! I own two and will never switch to anything else. They love attention, and will sit on your shoulder for as long as you want them to.
If you plan on getting one, make sure you by one that is fairly small sized. The larger they are, the bigger they are, which, in most pet store cases, the less human contact they've gotten. If you get a small rat, they will have more time to bond with you and get used to you. I'm not saying that big rats won't make good pets, heavens, they do, but most at the pet stores aren't used to being handled that much, so it might take a while for them to get used to you.
Remember to get a cage big enough for when the rat get's to it's full size. They can grow fairly big, so a big cage is a must. If you want to get two get a cage big enough for both.
@Flutterfly:
I must argue that animals with red eyes are meaner than animals with blue or brown or black eyes. We have a rat with red eyes, and she's the sweetest thing ever. The eye color has NOTHING to do with the animals attitude, it's how they are treated. Even a hamster with BLACK eyes can be mean if they aren't treated right
2007-11-20 10:14:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Check out the Rat and Mouse Club of America. www.rmca.org
The most informed and best rat/mouse page I have ever seen.
Between my husband and I, we have kept in the past all of the typical rodent/small animal pets and rats are the best in temperment, ease of care, responsiveness to humans, easiest to feed, and intelligence.
Nearly all of the above posts are good answers. Rats are not any more smelly than dogs. When their cage starts to smell, it makes them smell. Keep the cage clean and they will smell cleaner. Personally I think dogs are worse! Now, ferrets are stinky!
2007-11-21 16:47:10 · answer #5 · answered by luv_my_rats 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I could choose my rats again, I would choose two that like to be held... It's sometimes a bit upsetting and frustrating if they generally would rather be inside a cage.
But hell yeah, rats are great pets! And apart from that, no regrets!
Also don't make the same mistake as me and assume just 'coz the bedding says for small animals, that it is for rats.
I'm glad you're doing your research first!
2007-11-21 15:48:55 · answer #6 · answered by let me have my fractured logic 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rats need a very large cage and really need to be kept in pairs or more. They suffer from breathing problems and tumours and can be costly but are one of the most loving and adorable pets ever! If you can afford it and you have the time and money and love for them then by all means go to your local pet store and ask for some more information. You might also buy a couple of rescue rats? most rescue centres have all kinds of animals now which need rehoming...
2007-11-20 09:50:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am glad you have chosen a rat. They are wonderful pets. They do need a spacious cage they get bigger then mice and hamsters. They are easier to tame them most other rodents. Maybe suggesting to your parents that maybe you will help with the chores more will win them over. If i wanted something bad enough and i wasn't old enough to work that is what i did. I offfered to do more to help them around the house to earn it. This method got me alot of stuff and some extra cash sometimes. Give it a try how could it hurt anything.
2007-11-20 10:01:29 · answer #8 · answered by Ems 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've seen people who hate there pet rat, and some who love them. I've never had a rat, but I have had hamsters before. It all depends on the attitude of the rat, the environment, and how much you know about the animal. Before I got my hamster I reads every book in the public library about them. I knew what I could and couldn't do. On the other hand, my friend got a hamster, without reading. Mine was gentle, and carefree. He had a good, comfortable life. My friends did not. She continuously used the wrong bedding, left no food or water for days, and her hamster was mean. If you got 2 inches away from it, it would attack you. I think the same goes for rats. If you do want one for Christmas go to the pet store and ask to hold one of them before you buy it. If it bites, you will not have a good relationship with it.
((I also am also suspicious about animals with red eyes. -looks around- they always end up being meaner than the rest.))
2007-11-20 09:56:39 · answer #9 · answered by Chevygirlfxr 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Rats do best in pairs.
I've never had rats until recently and I love them. They are one of the best pets I've ever had.
Rescue places are great for what they do, but they won't let you adopt any if you have a cat. (We have a cat and they are well protected from her).
Try petfinder.com I was going to get two babies from a local shelter, but ended up adopting someone else's instead.
2007-11-20 18:39:18 · answer #10 · answered by catiwhompous 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rats are awesome pets! They love attention, and they are smart. They also are cleaner than most small rodents. You can teach them tricks. They just want to be with you and out and about. Great choice!
2007-11-20 10:32:18 · answer #11 · answered by Deb S (SFECU) pray4revival 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋